Chapter 209 - Party (2)

Mia held her breath when Leo drove inside his grandparents residence. 

"Trust me, you'll like my grandparents." He assured her. "And they'll like you too." 

"I hope." She said with uncertainty.  She had never really been one to care about people's impression of her but now, she was really nervous. She wanted them to like her. To look past her family background and accept her.

"Yea and I'm certain it won't be a big party. Just a few family members." 'I hope'. He added in his head. 

As much as he tried to hide it, he was nervous. Very nervous! 

He wanted them to like Mia and accept her. It wouldn't affect his relationship with her if they didn't like her, but he just hoped and wished they would accept her and love her. And he also hoped there were only a few invited guests.

But his hope was dashed when he saw different cars almost everywhere as he drove further inside. 

What.

The.

Hell!

This wasn't what either of them had expected. 

Although it was surprising, he found it amusing when he saw almost everyone outside dressed in white. 

"Oh my God!" Mia gasped. 

"Are these... are these cars here for us? Oh no! I can't. I can't do it!" She said nervously as he parked the car.

Leo perfectly understood how she felt now so he wasn't angry or anything.

"Just wait here, I'll go speak with grandma and see if there's anyway we can correct this." 

He knew it was impossible. Were they supposed to send all of the guests back to their houses? Who were the people anyway?

Oh! He just remembered his grandma had said she would only be inviting a 'small crowd' of 200 people. He should have believed her. 

Mia grabbed his hand as he was about to open the door. 

He could closely see the anxiety on her face. 

"You... aren't leaving me here. I... I can't." She shook her head. 

Her heart was beating really fast. She liked people to admire her since it boosted her self esteem, but she didn't like being at the centre of attention.

"I'll be back soo— shit!" He cussed loudly when he saw his grandparents approaching where his car was parked. 

Someone must have told them they had arrived. 

"My little Lion!" His grandmother said happily and she hurried towards them. 

"I think we have to get down now." Leo shot Mia an apologetic look before he got down from the car. 

His grandmother got to where he was quickly and hugged him tightly. 

"You have no idea how happy you've made me." She said happily. 

His grandfather only gave him a smile which he returned stiffly.

When grandmother pulled away from the hug, she looked at Mia's direction, wondering why she wasn't getting down. 

"She's nervous." Leo explained to his grandparents who nodded in understanding before he went to open the door for her and helped her out. She was literally shaking. 

Mia received his offered hand. He was the only person she could trust and count on. 

"Oh my dear!" Grandmother gasped. "You look so pretty. I am so sorry for making you shy." She said before going to give Mia a hug. 

Mia thought she was nice. She had expected to see a scary looking grandma with her hair in a strict bun and eyes which were stern, but his grandmother looked lively.

She wore a white flowing gown with gold jewelries, her hair which were now completely grey was left flowing down her shoulders, she even wore make up. Leo had said she was in her 70s but Mia was beginning to doubt that because she looked like she was in her 50s.

Now, she knew where they had gotten their looks from. His grandmother was a beautiful woman and she reminded her of Chloe. Just the older version.

His grandfather on the other hand looked a bit tired. He held a walking stick and also wore a white shirt but he was probably a rebel because he wore black pants. His hair was also completely grey. Late 70s also, he did look it. 

Mia became a bit relaxed as the older woman pulled away from the hug to look at her face. 

"Do not be nervous my dear, we do not eat people. I saw your picture and you looked really pretty but not as pretty as you look right now." His grandfather spoke to her for the first time. 

Mia blushed to the tip of her ears but she managed to smile at them.

Seeing her smile which didn't look very forced, Leo relaxed a bit. 

"Come with me you two, the guests are waiting." Grandmother said joyfully before taking Mia's hand to lead her inside.

When she turned to look at Leo who was walking behind, he gave her an apologetic smile. There was no way he would be able to snatch her away from his grandmother. 

Mia was a bit confused when they entered inside the house since she couldn't see any party or a lot of people. Grandmother sensed it and spoke up. 

"We have a private room where parties are held in here."

"My wife always liked to organise parties so when we moved here, we made sure to have a special room for parties." Grandfather added. 

Mai didn't know what else to say other than a "Oh.." 

She hadn't even had any chance to look around the mansion they just entered because grandmother just continued leading her upstairs. It seemed she was very eager to introduce her to the crowd.

"Are you ready my dear?" Grandmother asked when they got to the front of a large door where two men stood and served as the doormen. 

'I'm not ready.'

'I'm never ready.'

'I do not think I'll be ready even if you give me 365 days.'

But she managed to give a nervous smile. 

"Yes, I am."

"Great then! Let's go in." 

Before the doormen could open the door, they heard a voice behind, greet. 

"Mother, Father." 

They all turned around and this was where Leo's countenance changed as he came face to face with his parents. 

He didn't need anyone to tell him before he realized that they were never going to accept Mia as their daughter in-law. 

"Oh! You're both here. Just in time." Grandmother said with a warm smile. 

She liked to smile a lot. Mia noted. Maybe it was the reason she still looked young and healthy. 

"Where is Louis and Chloe?" Grandfather asked. 

The couple kept staring at the girl grandmother was holding. 

"They are on their way." Leo's father spoke up. 

"I know you." Mrs King said as she continued to look at Mia's face.

Mia's body turned stiff and grandmother noticed it immediately since she was holding Mia. 

Mia remembered that day at the Park. She had directly confronted Mrs King because they had indirectly called her a liar and slashed her pay when they had all seen how she had collapsed from illness and exhaustion. She had torn the paycheck and walked out on them including Mrs King. Mia remembered clearly. 

If only she hadn't taken that job that day. 

From Mia's reaction, Leo could tell she had met his mother before. Why didn't she mention it? 

"Of course you should have met her, isn't she your son's lady?" Grandfather asked logically.

Leo went to take Mia's hand and pulled her closer to him, separating her from his grandmother. "This is Mia Lucas, my girlfriend. Mia, meet my parents." Leo did a quick introduction. 

"My pleasure to meet you. Mr King, Mrs King." Mia managed to say even though her heart was beating really fast. 

"Where did we meet? I am certain I have seen her before but I'm not sure she looked like this then." 

Mrs King wasn't harsh, she only sounded curious. It made Mia realise she probably didn't recognise her and relaxed a little. 

"I visited your hospital once. Maybe it was then." Mia said with a tight smile.

The couple kept looking at her which made her uncomfortable. She could see it clearly, they didn't like her. 

"Enough of all this, let's go in." Grandmother urged them all before they entered but not without Mr and Mrs King exchanging a long look. 

The party was even grander than Mia and Leo had expected. Oh! And the cake... it was so big. The biggest cake she had seen up close. 

"Where did you meet my mother?" Leo asked in a whisper. 

Mia was really embarrassed. She bit her lip and looked at his face. "Long story. I promise to tell you when we get home." 

He searched her eyes for a moment before nodding. 

All eyes were on the both of them. People literally stopped whatever they were doing to look at them while grandmother led them both to where they had set up as the stage with the cake by the side. 

"This is awkward." Leo muttered as he tried to keep a smile on his face. 

"That's an understatement." Mia murmured as she tried to not look around. 

Grandmother began to give a long speech about love and how Leo found it. It was a very weird and awkward moment for him and he wished the ground would open up and swallow him especially when she began to talk about his younger days, when he usually came to spend the holidays with her and how he fought with a girl who ended up beating him up. 

Mia giggled when she heard that part and it made him even more embarrassed. 

"Cheers to love!" She said with her wineglass raised high. 

The others echoed and they all took a gulp. 

"Come on, do not just stand there. Do something romantic for us." The crowd cheered. 

Leo smiled in embarrassment before placing a kiss on her cheek.

As the crowd clapped, Mia looked down in embarrassment but caught sight of something so she looked up and locked eyes with Louis who was staring at her intensely. 

Her heart skipped several beats especially since it looked like it was Leo standing right there. Unconsciously, she gripped Leo's hand and moved closer to him.

Louis' eyes didn't leave her as he lifted his glass to his lips.